It’s hardly surprising Jodie Meeks’ team-leading 19 points on 6-of-15 shooting fell short of his career-high 42 point outburst Sunday against the Thunder. The Lakers (22-43) still won’t make the playoffs for only the fifth time in franchise history whether or not they duplicated their upset this week over Oklahoma City (48-17).

So what about the future?

Kobe Bryant challenged the Lakers’ front office on Wednesday to build a championship caliber roster this offseason instead of rebuilding. He called out Lakers executives Jim and Jeanie Buss to improve their relationship, partly strained since the Lakers passed up Phil Jackson last November in favor of Mike D’Antoni to coach five games into the season. Bryant also argued the Lakers should decide soon on D’Antoni’s future.

D’Antoni didn’t sound as concerned, even admitting he hasn’t thought much about whether the Lakers will retain him next season.

“It’s not my place to have a sense,” D’Antoni said on Thursday. “My job is to finish the year as good as I can and develop these guys and get consistency in guys. Everybody huddles at the end of the year, and we’ll see what happens.”

D’Antoni has two years left on his contract, but only next season is guaranteed. Despite the persistent losing, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has praised D’Antoni for how he’s handled an injury-decimated roster that features plenty of young players that lacked significant roles elsewhere. A source familiar with the situation said the Lakers front office has never told D’Antoni that his job is in jeopardy after this season. But the Lakers won’t evaluate D’Antoni until the season ends, so they can fully assess both the roster and their offseason needs.

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Both Bryant and Pau Gasol have disliked D’Antoni’s small-ball philosophy and fast pace, though plenty of the Lakers’ role players have praised how D’Antoni makes them feel comfortable under his system.

“They’ve always been active in what they’re trying to do and plan,” D’Antoni said. “I don’t see any conflict of what (Kobe) said and what they’ll do. Obviously everything has a timetable. Jim and Mitch have to do what’s available and what’s best for the franchise.”

Bryant expects to return next season recovered from a fractured left leg that kept him sidelined since December. He also expects a roster built to win an NBA title, mindful that his two-year, $48.5 million extension ends following the 2015-16 season.

“I’m glad he spoke his mind,” Gasol said of Bryant. “He wants to be in the best possible position to win. Whether you do that publicly or internally, that’s totally up to you. He spoke his mind and you have to respect him for that.”

The verdict remains undecided whether Miami’s LeBron James and New York’s Carmelo Anthony will opt out of their contracts and leave this offseason.

The Lakers wouldn’t want to offer a max-level contract on Cleveland’s Luol Deng or on Toronto’s Kyle Lowry. The Lakers will also have up to 12 of their 15-player roster become free agents.

“He feels he doesn’t have the time left to wait for a year or two to rebuild,” Lakers guard Jordan Farmar said of Bryant. “His impatience is understandable. It’s very tough. But if anybody can get it done, it’s the Lakers organization. They’ve done it in the past.

“The organization as a whole is committed to winning all the time. But it’s hard. You can’t expect to just put a team together and win a championship.”